Monday’s Stock Market Barometers

Fundamental and technical indicators of the U.S. market’s status, updated through Monday’s close--except for highs and lows and investor sentiment.

Key indexes vs. their 200-day moving averages:

A stock index’s 200-day moving average indicates the basic trend, up or down. It is generally bullish if the index stays above the average.

S&P; 500 (blue-chip stocks)

Monday: 876.98

*

200-day moving average: 861.49

*

Russell 2,00 index (smaller stocks):

Monday: 420.13

*

200-day moving average: 391.08

Price-to-earnings ratio of the Standard & Poor’s 500: 20.6

Based on actual earnings per share, 12 months ended June 30

Average since 1923: 13.5

Dividend yield of the Standard & Poor’s 500:1.8%

Average dividend yield of blue-chip stocks

Average since 1923: 4.5%

Weekly new highs vs. new lows on the NYSE: 380/123

Data for the week ended Friday. More highs than lows is preferable, indicating a bullish trend.

Investment newsletter sentiment:

Stocks’ near-term trend as predicted by 135 independent investment newsletters, weekly survey by Investors Intelligence. The data are often viewed as a contrarian indicator: A rising percentage of bulls can signal a topping market.

Bullish:

Oct. 17: 48.8%

Friday: 46.6%

Bearish:

Oct. 17: 29.7%

Friday: 31.4%

Correction:

Oct. 17: 21.5%

Friday: 22.0%

Source: A.G. Edwards & Sons. More information can be found at

https://www.agedwards.com on the World Wide Web.